The Rural Pediatric Network was established as part of a joint initiative with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s), Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM), and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC). The network serves as a means of support for all of Georgia’s rural pediatricians and rural family practitioners to keep care for kids close to home. Providers have opportunities to learn from their peers and complete trainings facilitated by subject matter experts.
Free CME Opportunities
The Pediatric Advancement Speakers Series (PASS) is a free monthly training series for providers to earn CME credits, offered by Mercer University School of Medicine. In these one-hour virtual training sessions, participants learn from subject matter experts on a variety of topics, such as infectious disease, endocrinology, mental health, and many more. PASS includes peer-led rural pediatric patient case studies and an in-person CME conference.
Network Newsletter
The Rural Pediatric News is published bimonthly and highlights training and continuing medical education options, recommended reading, physician spotlights, seasonal health and wellness information to share with patients, and more.
Pediatric Advancement Speakers Series
All sessions are 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Virtual link will be emailed to registrants.
June 14: Infectious Diseases | William Matthew Linam, MD, MS
Dr. Linam joined Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in 2017. He completed fellowships in pediatric infectious diseases and quality improvement and obtained a Masters of Science in Environmental Health, Clinical and Translational Research at University of Cincinnati. He currently serves as Hospital Epidemiologist for Scottish Rite Hospital. He is also Medical Director of Outcomes for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
August 9: Rural Pediatric Patient Case Study—Psychiatry | Rural Pediatrician Grace Davis, MD
Dr. Davis has been in private practice in Sylvester since 1997. She received her medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. During her three-year residency at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, she pursued her master’s in public health, focusing on maternal and child health needs. Dr. Davis is a volunteer clinic instructor of pediatrics with Phoebe Family Medicine Residency Program and is affiliated with Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and Phoebe Worth Medical Center.
September 20: Cardiology | Benjamin Toole, MD
Dr. Toole joined the Children’s Heart Center team in 2014. A native Georgian, he attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. Following medical school, he completed a three-year pediatric residency at UAB. Dr. Toole completed fellowships in pediatric cardiology and in non-invasive imaging, with a focus on fetal echocardiography. He joined the Heart Center and became the primary cardiologist for Albany and southwest Georgia. He has since also helped open Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology sites in Valdosta and Thomasville.
November 8: Rural Pediatric Patient Case Study | Rural Pediatrician Jennifer Stroud, MD
Dr. Stroud practices at CRH Pediatric Group in Coffee County. She earned her bachelor’s from the University of California and master’s from the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. She completed a post-master’s fellowship in patient safety. Dr. Stroud attended the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. She completed her three-year pediatric residency at the University of Oklahoma. Her interests include preventative medicine, quality improvement, patient safety, and immunizations. Dr. Stroud was previously in practice with a large health system in Orlando.
December 6: Obesity Medicine | Stephanie Walsh, MD
Dr. Walsh spent 10 years working as a hospitalist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and started treating children with overweight and obesity in a specialty clinic in 2008. A board-certified pediatrician and diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, Dr. Walsh played an instrumental role in establishing the Children’s Strong4Life movement. Dr. Walsh continues to support Strong4Life programming and content while seeing patients and families in the Strong4Life Clinic.
Pediatric Advancement Speakers Series (PASS)
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October 27: Pediatric CME Conference
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center will host a free in-person CME conference in the Presidents Dining on Mercer University’s Macon campus on October 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Topics include:
New Ways to Maintain Pediatric Certification and the Value of the Portfolio Site — Keith Mann, M.D., MEd, Vice President, Continuing Certification, American Board of Pediatrics
The Importance of Rural Pediatric Care — Jean Sumner, MD, FACP, Dean, Mercer University School of Medicine
Building Resilience: A Whole Child Approach — Rachel Whaley, MSW, Strong4Life, Wellness Program Coordinator, Behavioral Mental Health, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Addressing Suicide in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting — Erin Harlow-Parker, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, Strong4Life, Manager of Child Advocacy Programs, Behavioral Mental Health, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Capabilities of the Information Exchange and How to Subscribe to GaHIN — Kathryn Cheek, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Rivertown Pediatrics, Columbus, Georgia, and Denise Hines, DHA, PMP, FHIMSS, Executive Director, Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN)
CME Credits: 5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM provided through the joint providership of the Medical Educational Council of Pensacola (MECOP) and the Mercer University School of Medicine
CNE Credits: 5 CNE credits provided by the Three Rivers Area Health Education Center